Optical toy



Jun'e 29 1926.

. Y 1,590,463 R. we wooD f OITICAL TOY Filed Nov. 9, 1922 l ,/l/ wg Y Off/bad www ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES ROBERT W. WOOD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

OPTICAL TOY.

Application filed November 9, 1922.

This invention relates to an amusement device or optical toy by means of which grotesque images of an object may be viewed with the aid of an inclined mirror or other suitable device suitably mounted within an enclosure.

An object of the present invention is to provide refiecting means comprising an enclosure provided with an opening adjacent which may be placed any object adapted to be viewed, such as an animated toy, grotesque object, or false make-up adapted to have its parts relatively movable into different aspects. Another orifice in the refleeting device provides means through whichY the image of the grotesque or other animated form displayed in the first opening may be viewed, the reflection of the object or form being accomplished by means of an inclined mirror positioned within the device.

Another feature, of the invention is that I provide a small supplemental mirror within theV device so placed that it enables the operator to properly position the reflecting device relative to those viewing it and to see what is being projected by the device or reflected by the mirror. Y

More especially, it is an object of the invention to enable a person to apply an elastic or other form or mask to his chin or other part of his face or head and place this `elastic or other form, when thus positioned, adjacent the first opening referred to above. In this way a ligure including the form or mask and also the operators lips will be clearly visible to spectators viewing the image of these parts formed in the inclined mirror. By reciting doggerel or humorous verses ani with exaggerated movements of the lips, the spectators will see a grotesque face presented which will be reversed by the inclined mirror so that it will be seen in upright position.

As the effect of the inclined mirror within the enclosure is to reverseor invert the position of any object being reflected by the device, I propose to place the object presented for projection in reversed or inverted posi.

tion. In projecting grotesque or animated Vfigures or objects, I also propose to apply a form, Aeither grotesque or otherwise, directly to the operators face either by painting thereon or by fixing a false makeup thereto Vand reflecting the object together with a portion Vof the operators face. A lforrnso sircd.

semi No. 599,915.

disposed on the operators face vin reversed position may be displayed by any one of a number of different methods, the method illustrated being one of those preferred.

More particularly, I propose to form on or apply to the operators face features including a nose and eyes, etc., in inverted form. These displayed on the operators face 1n inverted position adjacent the mouth, when viewedV by means of the present device, or by aiiylother means by which they may be seen inupright position, simulate a complete grotesque face. In the image, the operators lips and mouth, which are approximately symmetrical about a horizontal axis, supplement and complete the features apA plied to the face or chin. In this way, a complete image of a grotesque object such as the combined face and mask or form may be viewed in erect position.

The very extraordinary expressions of the face are due primarily to the fact that the mouth of the person speaking or singing makes unusual grimaces when reviewed in an inverted position. The lower jaw of the image as viewedby the spectators remains practically fixed and all of the movements of Vthe features .forming the principal parts of the image are made with what is appar#l ently the upperpart of the face. Induced bythe movements of the mouth and chin of the person operating the device, the eyes and nose of the image move vertically as the operator continues his speaking or gesticulating. As the chin and mouth of the operator are suitably painted or providedV with a grotesque mask', the grimaces are made, or may be made, as ludicrous and of any type de- The principal object of this inveiition is therefore to obtain the grotesque effect above described by means of suitable projecting, reflecting', or other means, a part of the face of an operator suitably provided with a mask or painted figure being the part refiected or projected.

Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the features of construction, ope-ration and method set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing.:

Figure l shows a` vertical longitudinal section of one formof the projecting device with anoperator in position to project a grotesque image upon the mirror.

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Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device showingV the appearance of the image as seen by the spectators.

3 is a plan View of the projecting device. i y

Fig. 1 is a moditied detail view showing another means of mounting the supple-4 mental mirror.

Fig. is a sectional vie-Vv taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. G is a perspective view of the entire device', and

7 discloses one method of displaying a grotesque form upon the face 'of 'an' operator. j v

Preferably, my inif'ention comprises the following principal parts: first, a box or enclosure having two apertures therein in Walls of the device at right angles to each other. One lof these Walls may be the cover piece of the box `and the other the frontY end thereof. Second, an inclined mirror suitlably supported ivit-hin the boi; or enclosure so that objects disposed adjacent one of the apertures may be rendered visible when vie\'ved through the other aperture'. Third, a supplemental mirror in the forward portion of the box disposed adjacent a small aperture in the coverA of the bof; enabling operator to properly position the device. Fourth, a prefeied method of forming grotesque, animated objects as seen in Fig. 7.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing, 10 shows a suitable enclosure preferably in the form of a box. This is provided With an aperture 11 in its cover plate 12; Another aperture 13 preferably comprising practically the entire front end portion ofthe box is also pro` vided. These two orifices 11 and 13 provide means respectively for displaying and viewing an object, 4Vithin the boX 10 in the position as shown is an inclined mirror 15. This is preferably disposed substantially at to the horizontal so that it obliquely faces the apertures 11 and 13 and may be retained in position by the strips as shown. Mounted near the front end 'of the box is a. supplemental mirror1 16 and in the cover plate 12 of the boX is a small supplemental aperture 17 enabling an operator., when in the position shown in Fig. 1, to `clearly see What-is being displayed on the mirror 15 and its relation to those viewing its reflection thereon.

The inside surface of the cover piece 1 2 of the device' preferably is suitably ornamented as by p'aintingsothat one viewing the device sees the grotesque features surrounded by any desired orilamentation'r In the figures of thedravng, thepgrotefsque form disposed opposite the peningv 11 appears a ivin'doxv and as if it yvere surrounded shrubbery. The effeet, therefore, is of the features being displayed as if appearing naturally at and looking -out of a Window. It is to be understood, however, that any other form of ornamentation may be utilized.

Forr convenience, if desired, the supplemental mirror 1G, instead of being mounted upon a rigid frame 18 and fastened to the front Wall of the enclosure as indicated inV Figs. 1 and 3, may be made adjustable shown in Figs. 4; and 5. In this n'iodification, the mirror 16 is mounted on a r'o'd 20 rotatably engaging metal strips 21. By means 0f the lnurle'd head 22, the Obliquity of the mirroi 16 may be Widely varied to properly position it relative to the mirror 'l5 and the operator.

The above described projecting device is particularly adapted for displaying grotesque images presented through the aperture 11. One method of doing this is clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and The operator either paints a grotesque form upon, or applies one to his face by means of a false face preferably of rubber or other suitable material such as papier-mache, the grotesque outlines of which foim features such as eyes and a nose. These are disposed as clearly indicated in Fig. T, centrally upon the operators face directly below the l'oiier lip, so that the eyes and nose which have been painted on the chin, or the-applied mask, form a false face in inverted position relative to the operators lips. By the operator placing himself in the position yshown in Fig. 1 with the elastic false face'orY painted features and also with his own lips adjacent the aperature 11 a spectator in the positionV shown in Fig. 6 will see an image somewhat similar to that slioivn in Fig. 2. rlhe reflecting device also is suitably illuminated by the lamp 19 in the position shown in Fig. 6. Y

The effect of the mirror and method of reecting the objects displayed is to reverse or invert the relative positions of the operaA tors lips and the grotesque features painted upon his chin so ythat the features, While grotesque, appear to the spectators to be in proper relation to each other. V

` Instead ofthe operator placing parts, such as false faces, upon his chin, any animated device may be placed in front of aperture 11 which Will be viewed in reversed or erected position through the aperture 18. To aid the operator in projecting objects applied to his face, a small depression 23 may be provided against Which the operators nose may be placed. V

In the preferred method of projecting objects contemplated particularly for amusement purposes, the operator in` the position s hovvnK in'A Fig. 1' Will recite humorousy or doggerel paragraphs or verses yvhile ciraggerating the movements of the inu'scles of the face' and chin in so doing. The elfect lil of this will be to distort the relative positions of the eyes and nose forming the false face applied to his chin, and, in combination with the natural or exaggerated movements of the lips in speaking will produce a moving or animated grotesque picture upon the mirror 15.

The same inverted position of a false make-up applied to the chin of a person may be utilized for the production of comic motion picture films. Also, the operator in rear of a screen in inverted position may, without interposition of any optical devices, display a grotesque or other form displayed in inverted position upon his chin.

What I claim is:

l. A reflecting device comprising in combination, an enclosure, a wall thereof having an aperture therein through which objects may be reflected, another Wall at right angles thereto having an aperture through which an image of said reflected object may be viewed, an inclined mirror within said enclosure obliquely facing said walls upon Y which said object is displayed and its image reflected, and a supplemental mirror within said enclosure enabling an operator in front of the aperture through which objects are reflected to view the image reflected upon the mirror.

2. A reiiecting device comprising in combination, an enclosure, a wall thereof having an aperture therein through which objects may be reiiected, another wall at right angles thereto having an aperture through which an image of said reflected object may be viewed, an inclined mirror within said enclosure and obliquely facing said walls upon which said object is displayed and its image reflected, a supplemental aperture adjacent the aperture through which the objects are displayed, and an adjustable mirror associated therewith to enable an operator in front of the. aperture through which objects are refiected to View the image reflected upon the mirror.

3. A reflecting device comprising in combination, an enclosure, a wall thereof having an aperture therein through which objects may be reflected, another Wall at right angles thereto having an aperture through which an image of said reflected object may` be viewed, an inclined mirror within said enclosure and obliquely fac-ing said walls upon which said object is displayed and its image refiected, a supplemental aperture adjacent the aperture through which the objects are reflected, and an adjustable mirror associated therewith, said supplemental aperture being spaced from said first mentioned aperture whereby an operator may reflect parts of his face and simultaneously view their reflection on the inclined mirror.

In testimony whereof, I hereto afi'ix my signature.

ROBERT w. vvo'oDJ' 

